MusicNewsGrace Jones replaces M.I.A. as Afropunk headlinerAfter backlash surrounding the rapper’s comments about Black Lives Matter, the festival have announced the legendary pop musician for their debut London eventShareLink copied ✔️July 19, 2016MusicNewsTextSelim Bulut Days after M.I.A. was dropped as a headliner from Afropunk London, the festival have announced that she will be replaced as headliner by the legendary Grace Jones, who will also be joined by a score of new names including Laura Mvula and Lady Leshurr. Afropunk has run many successful events since debuting in Brooklyn in 2005, but their first London outing has been plagued by controversy since they first announced M.I.A. as headliner. The Sri Lankan artist had previously made comments perceived to be critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. Back in April, M.I.A. told ES Magazine, “It’s interesting that in America the problem you’re allowed to talk about is Black Lives Matter. Is Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar going to say Muslim Lives Matter? Or Syrian Lives Matter? Or this kid in Pakistan matters? That’s a more interesting question.” She later clarified her comments, writing, “I’m not Muslim. My question was, on American platforms what do they allow you to stand up for in 2016?” Many threatened to boycott the festival if M.I.A. was not removed. The rapper tweeted last month that she wouldn’t be performing (“If pulling the show saves the cause and lives then that’s what I’ll do”), but Afropunk maintained that she’d be playing until earlier this week, when they issued a statement saying that “after discussing the situation with the artist and the community, a decision was agreed upon by all involved that M.I.A. will no longer headline”. The full lineup for Afropunk London, which takes place on September 24th at London’s Alexandra Palace, includes SZA, Loyle Carner, Gaika, Don Letts, and many more. Check out the full lineup here, and revisit Dazed’s interview with Grace Jones. People get ready! AFROPUNK LONDON, @Miss_GraceJones headlines + much more! Sept 24 Tickets: https://t.co/LReZZXlPjppic.twitter.com/A2zAPdNlfe— AFROPUNK (@afropunk) July 19, 2016Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MORE10 great albums you may have missed in the last three monthsZukovstheworld on the UK Ug scene: ‘It’s modern pop music’Lenovo & IntelInternet artist Osean is all for blending art and technologyThe only tracks you need to hear from December 202511 alt Christmas anthems for the miserable and brokenhearted Last Days: The opera exploring the myth of Kurt CobainHow hip-hop is shaping the fight for Taiwan’s futureNew York indie band Boyish: ‘Fuck the TERFs and fuck Elon Musk’The 5 best Travis Scott tracks... according to his mumTheodora answers the dA-Zed quizDHLSigrid’s guide to NorwayThe 30 best K-pop tracks of 2025